"Guns? What guns?"
The mainstream media may be ignoring this story, but events are progressing fast and furious (parden the pun.) Rep. Allen West (R-FL) says that President Obama must fire Attorney General Eric Holder. If he doesn't says West, then Obama is complicit.
In the below report from TPM Muckraker, it looks like acting ATF director Ken Melson (who says he was sick to his stomach when he learned about F&F), reportedly wanted to watch one of the store gun sales on a TV hookup from a concealed camera in one of the cooperating stores.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/issa_poised_to_collect_first_scalp_in_atf_fast_and.php
Melson is in an interesting situation. He is cooperating with congressional investigators in spite of roadblocks from the DOJ. He has not yet been fired, which leads one to question why. Maybe it's because he has clearly signalled that he doesn't intend to be the fall-guy. He obviously knows where a lot of bodies are buried. (Parden the pun.)
Then there is the effort by Democratic representatives Elijah Cummings (MD) and Carolyn Maloney to tie this investigation and congressional hearings to the question of tightened gun control. That may be the subject of a subsequent debate, but the immediate question is the case at hand (F&F). The effort by Cummings and Maloney will only serve to heighten speculation that F&F was ordered by higher-ups in Washington to provide a basis for the administration's questionable claim that 80% of the guns involved in the Mexican gang wars come from the US. What other purpose could have been served by such an intelligence operation as F&F? According to some, the ultimate result would be a curbing of the Second Amendment. I am keeping an open mind on that proposition.
Meanwhile, the Mexican government says it wants those responsible to be tried in Mexico. Surely, that won't happen, but it does raise an interesting scenario.
"No culpable." ("Not guilty".)
Meanwhile, back in the news rooms of the mainstream media....
"Guns? What guns?"
I wonder if Holder will fall on his sword or throw Obama under the bus.
ReplyDeleteIt could be interesting to watch.
The media aren't saying anything, because there is no substantive story here, but bloggers like Gary Fouse prominently parade to all five of their readers that some opposition congress rep gave a typical political screed about wanting a cabinet member to resigns. You call that "fast and furious"? Only on your own keyboard.
ReplyDeletePolitics as usual.
Yawn.
Developments? What developments?
ReplyDelete